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ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus

ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus
R15,000
SKU: 4326
Brand: ZTE
Category: Mobiles
Available
  • CPU: Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
  • RAM: 16GB/24GB
  • Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB
  • Display: AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak)
  • Camera: 50MP
  • OS: Android 14, Redmagic OS 9

Our Rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts

8
  • Display 8 / 10
  • Camera 8 / 10
  • Performance 8 / 10
  • Battery 8 / 10

PROS

  1. Best build quality.
  2. 5G network supported.
  3. 5500mAh Li-polymer battery.
  4. Large AMOLED display.

CONS

  1. FM is not supported.

The ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus redefines mobile gaming in South Africa, offering uncompromised, console-like hardware performance at a highly disruptive starting price of ZAR 15,000. For hardcore mobile gamers and performance purists, this device represents an absolute pinnacle of engineering, trading mainstream camera aesthetics for raw, sustained processing speed and custom gaming utility.

South African Pricing & Realistic Availability

While the starting baseline sits at around ZAR 15,000, final retail costs across South Africa will fluctuate based on the specific high-tier RAM and storage configuration you choose, regional import factors, and active store promotions.

Because the Red Magic series is a highly specialized, elite gaming ecosystem, its distribution network looks very different from a standard consumer smartphone.

Where to Buy in South Africa

  • Online Marketplaces & Tech Hubs: Takealot, Hi Online, HiFi Corp, Cellucity, and 4U.

  • National Megastores & Retail Chains: Makro, Game, Foschini, and Mr Price.

  • Cellular Networks & Dealers: MTN and Chatz.

  • Value-Focused Outlets: PEP and Ackermans.

Availability Reality Check: While ZTE shares a broad distribution agreement with value-tier stores like PEP and Ackermans, those branches strictly carry entry-level, budget handsets. For a niche powerhouse like the Red Magic 9 Pro Plus, you will need to look at specialized tech retailers like Cellucity, digital platforms like Takealot, or high-tier network contract upgrades through MTN and Chatz.

Core Pillars: Why It is the Ultimate Gaming Machine

By skipping the traditional specification sheets, we can examine the real-world enthusiast features that justify every cent of its fifteen thousand Rand price tag:

  • Completely Flat, Uninterrupted Display: The front of the phone is a masterpiece for media and gaming. Thanks to an invisible under-display selfie camera, there is no punch-hole cutout and no notch. Furthermore, the back panel of the phone is entirely flat—the camera lenses are flush under the rear glass, offering an incredibly comfortable, ergonomic grip during intense gaming sessions.

  • Physical ICE 13.0 Cooling Fan: Standard phones get hot and throttle their speed to prevent overheating. The Red Magic 9 Pro Plus features an actual internal mechanical turbofan that spins up to 22,000 RPM, paired with a massive vapor chamber. This setup continuously flushes hot air out of physical side vents, keeping the top-tier Snapdragon processor running at 100% capacity for hours without lag.

  • Built-in Shoulder Triggers: Built into the frame of the phone are dual 520Hz capacitive shoulder keys. These act exactly like the bumper triggers on a console controller, allowing you to aim and shoot in competitive titles without blocking your view with your thumbs on the screen.

  • 165W Ultra-Fast Charging: This model separates itself by utilizing a cutting-edge dual-cell battery architecture paired with mind-blowing 165W fast charging. It can completely juice the phone from dead empty to 100% in under 20 minutes, while a built-in “charge separation” feature lets you power the hardware directly from the wall plug without heating up or degrading the battery while you play.

  • Futuristic Cyberpunk Aesthetic: True to its gaming roots, the device features a stunning industrial design, complete with customizable RGB lighting built directly into the cooling fan and shoulder triggers, and custom software that lets you map out macro commands for your favorite games.

Full Specifications

General

Brand ZTE
Model ZTE nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus
Announced 23 November, 2023
Released 23 November, 2023
Status Available
Price ZAR 15,000

Design

Type Design Type called form factor refers to a mobile phone's size, shape, and style as well as the layout and position of major components of phone. There are three major form factors seen in mobile phones => bar phones, folding phones and sliding phones. Bar
Dimensions 164 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
Weight 229 g (8.08 oz)
Protection Aviation aluminum middle frame
Colors Sleet (Black), Snowfall (Silver), Cyclone (Transparent Black)

Network

2G Network
3G Network
4G Network
5G Network
SIM SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a small card that contains mobile network subscriber's account information. This allows the phone using the card to attach to a mobile network. The SIM card is most commonly associated with GSM and UMTS mobile networks. Moving a SIM card from one phone to another allows a subscriber to switch mobile phones without having to contact their mobile network carrier. SIM cards can also be used by a phone to store limited amounts of data, such as phone numbers and text messages. Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

Display

Display Type Display Technology => A number of display technologies and types used in mobile phones => TFT (Thin Film Transistor), IPS (In-Place Switching), OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode), Super AMOLED (an even advanced version of AMOLED), Resistive Touchscreen (Resistive touchscreens contain two layer of conductive material with a very small gap between them which acts as a resistance), Capacitive Touchsceen (Capacitive touchscreen technology consists of a layer of glass coated with a transparent conductor) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1600 nits (peak)
Size 6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Display Protection Display Protection => Gorilla Glass is a special alkali-aluminosilicate glass shield with exceptional damage resistance that helps protect mobile displays from scratches, drops, and bumps of everyday use, It is always better to go for a smartphone with Gorilla Glass for that added protection and peace of mind. Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Media

Audio Playback
Video Playback
FM Radio No
Ring Tones
Loudspeaker

Camera

Main Camera Camera is able to capture photographs and usually videos, The most important characteristics of a camera are the resolution (measured in megapixels), lens focus type (fixed or automatic), higher megapixel cameras are known to capture higher quality photos, but not always a good measurement of the photos quality. 50 MP, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
Camera Features HDR
Video 1080p@30/60fps
Selfie Camera 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1.12µm, under display
Camera Features HDR
Video 1080p@30/60fps

Software

Operating System OS => Every computer system run on a base software called Operating System (OS). Operating System controls all basic operations of the computer (such as smartphone, PDAs, tablet computers and other handheld devices). The Operating System allows the user to install and run third party applications (apps), apps are used to add new functionality to the device. Android 14
User Interface UI or user interface of a device is the look and feel of the on-screen menu system. How it works, its color scheme, how it responds to button presses, all of these things are part of the user interface. Redmagic OS 9

Hardware

Chipset Chipset is a group of integrated circuits designed to perform one or a more dedicated functions, often with real time computing constraints, Popular smartphones are equipped with more advanced embedded chipsets that can do many different tasks depending on their programming. Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU CPU (Central Processing Unit) mostly known as processors, CPU processes instructions in order to carry out certain functions that make your device operate properly. Processors are often described as the brain of computers, smartphones and tablets, Smartphones and tablets rely on processors to carry out their every task, Processors are an incredibly important factor in selecting any type of computing device, including your smartphone. Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPU GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a single-chip processor designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display, This includes things such as lighting effects, object transformations, and 3D motion. Adreno 750
RAM (Memory) RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly, any byte of memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computer systems, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices. 16GB/24GB
Internal Storage Internal Storage is a data storage space (flash memory) mostly used in smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices where operating system, apps, music, photos, videos, files and other user data Is stored. 256GB/512GB/1TB
Card Slot Memory Card Slot is a special slot for inserting a memory card. Memory cards allow you to expand the phone's built-in memory, A memory card (sometimes called a flash memory card or a storage card) is a small storage medium used to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and video, for use on small, portable or remote computing devices such as mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras. No
Sensors Sensors are electronic components that detects and responds to some type of input from the physical environment. The specific input could be light, heat, motion, moisture, pressure and location, The output is generally a signal that is converted to use in computing systems, a location sensor, such as a GPS receiver is able to detect current location of your electronic device. Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Connectivity

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a wireless communications technology for exchanging data between mobile phones, headsets, computers and other network devices over short distances without wires, Bluetooth technology was primarily designed to support simple wireless networking of personal consumer devices. 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Wi-fi Wi-Fi is a popular wireless networking technology using radio waves to provide high-speed network connections that allows devices to communicate without cords or cables, Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming the preferred mode of internet connectivity all over the world. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-fi Hotspot
USB USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG, accessory connector, DisplayPort
Positioning GPS The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based radio navigation system, GPS permits users to determine their position, velocity and the time 24 hours a day, in all weather, anywhere in the world, In order to locate your position, your device or GPS receiver must have a clear view of the sky. GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
NFC NFC (Near field communication) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish peer-to-peer radio communications with each other by touching them together or bringing them into proximity, usually no more than a few inches.

Battery

Battery Type Battery Type => Cell phones run on various kinds of batteries depending on the manufacturer, phone size or shape and features. There are basically four types of cell phone batteries => Lithium Polymer, Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride and Nickel Cadmium. Li-Ion 5500 mAh, non-removable
Charging Wireless Charging (Inductive Charging) uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device, which can then use that energy to charge batteries or run the device. 165W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 16 min (advertised)

Reviews

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  • Rate this Product

  • Screen size, image quality (brightness, colors, contrast, etc), visibility in sun light, angles of view and touchscreen.
    6
  • Usability of Camera interface, image and video quality in different light conditions and environment.
    5
  • Is this device perform good while watching videos, playing games, taking snapshots, browsing internet and navigate through other applications?
    5
  • What about battery life, while calling, listening music, watching videos, playing games and doing other tasks.
    6
  • 6 / 10 based on your selection

Disclaimer Note

The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only.